Morningside College student Tyler Halligan was selected to participate in a recent Climate Reality Leadership Corps training with former Vice President Al Gore in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Morningside College student Tyler Halligan was selected to participate in a recent Climate Reality Leadership Corps training with former Vice President Al Gore in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Halligan said there were over 350 participants from 19 countries at the Iowa event, and he was one of only nine participants that were age 21 or younger.

Gore’s organization, The Climate Reality Project, offered the three-day training. It focused on how to communicate the urgency of the climate change issue, how to combine science and solutions to engage audiences and how to inspire others to take action. Participants heard from experts in such fields as strategic communications, climate science and grassroots organizing, and they networked with global leaders.

“It was really special being accepted to attend and being one of nine young adults who are interested in bringing awareness to climate change,” Halligan said. “I remember Al Gore had us all stand up as the future of climate change, and seeing such a small number of people out of so many made me realize how much we need to bring awareness to everyone, especially the youth. We are going to be inheriting this world, and we cannot keep leaving it in worse shape than when we got it.”

Tyler is the son of Brad and Heather Halligan of North Platte, Neb. He is a junior at Morningside majoring in biology.